Program Overview

VERGE Hawaii offers more than 70 inspiring main stage sessions, in-depth workshops and engaging breakouts exploring how Hawaii will reach 100% clean energy by 2045. The wide variety of thought-provoking sessions, the VERGE Interconnect solutions showcase, and countless opportunities for networking with leaders and practitioners, makes VERGE Hawaii the premier event for leaders building a sustainable energy future. Scroll down to view a sample of program highlights.

Governor's Address

Last year, Governor Ige signed into law the most aggressive clean energy goal in the country. What has happened since then, and where do we go from here?

Gov. David Ige

State of Hawaii

Governor Ige was born and raised in Pearl City and attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.

Gov. David Ige, Governor at State of Hawaii

The Power of the Private Sector in the Clean Energy Economy

MGM Resorts International has become a leader in large-scale renewable energy installations on its properties. The company's chief sustainability officer and former CFO provides insights and inspiration on the business case for on-site renewables as well as innovative partnerships that can ensure success.

Eric Faurot

GreenBiz Group

Eric Faurot leads GreenBiz Group, the leading B2B media company amplifying sustainable innovation. In this role he is responsible for the overall strategy and growth of the company.

Innovation and U.S. Electric Power Markets (with Hawaii Energy Backgrounder)

Providing a background on Hawaii's power market as context, this workshop will look at the rationale for competitive U.S.

Providing a background on Hawaii's power market as context, this workshop will look at the rationale for competitive U.S. power markets, their evolution over the past decade, the rapid growth of new technologies, and some of the key issues on the horizon, participants will learn the basic framework of competitive power and regulated markets, including variations between regional markets; gain insight into how power markets affect end-use customers, both now and in the future; and look at new and emerging technologies and business models affecting power market dynamics and customer relationships.

Topics include The Origin of The US Grid and Emergence of Monopolies and Utility Holding Companies; The Birth of Competitive Power; The Current Structure: Regulated and Restructured Power Markets and How They Function – A Look at Various US Markets; Resilience and Reliability: A Growing Challenge; and New Technologies, New Models, Smart Grid and Our Energy Future

John Cole

John Cole - Senior Policy Analyst, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute At HNEI John manages projects including grid modeling studies with General Electric and numerous other projects funded with the Ha

John Cole, Senior Policy Analyst at Hawaii Natural Energy Institute

Peter Kelly-Detwiler

NorthBridge Energy Partners, LLC

Peter Kelly-Detwiler has over 25 years of experience in the area of electric energy, retail power, and distributed energy assets. Mr.

Peter Kelly-Detwiler, Principal at NorthBridge Energy Partners, LLC

Future-Ready Now: Designing an Ecosystem Approach to a Sustainable Grid

In this workshop, we will produce potential systemic solutions to deliver on Hawaii’s ambitious goal of 100% renewably powered energy in the electricity sector by 2045. Attendees can expect to be fully immersed in a fast paced environment designed for collaborative innovation.

In this workshop, we will produce potential systemic solutions to deliver on Hawaii’s ambitious goal of 100% renewably powered energy in the electricity sector by 2045. Attendees can expect to be fully immersed in a fast paced environment designed for collaborative innovation. Participants will hone their skills at cross sector collaboration and leading the design of new solutions.

We use an innovation framework that unlocks the potential of a future perspective, the power of working in ecosystems, and the momentum of exponential trends. Teams get to present their solutions to each other, demonstrating how much can be accomplished in a short time frame when the conditions are right. Participants leave with comprehensive but simple frameworks, lasting relationships, and new personal capacities to lead into the future. This workshop benefits from having a diversity of participants, a background in energy is not required.

Driving Sustainability at City Scale

The growing movement in cities to advance clean energy and resilience is generating a rich pool of practical, replicable practices that can be emulated in Hawaii and beyond. Learn from the experiences of city leaders on the ground about tools and techniques that bring together stakeholders to address sustainable energy, water and other challenges.

Cody Hooven

City of San Diego

Cody Hooven coordinates sustainability planning and policy for San Diego, the 8th largest city in the country.

Cody Hooven, Chief Sustainability Officer at City of San Diego

Jacqueline Kozak Thiel

City of Fort Collins, CO

Jacqueline Kozak Thiel is the Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Fort Collins. She oversees the Departments of Economic Health, Environmental Services and Social Sustainability.

The carbon cycle and carbon sinks offer Hawaii a wide range of solutions that not only can help the state achieve its energy and climate goals but also improve economic resilience and self-sufficiency. We will explore a broad range of solutions, including direct air capture, regenerative agriculture and ocean health.

Susan Asam

ICF International

Ms. Susan Asam is a Principal at ICF International, based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Ms.

Susan Asam, Principal at ICF International

Noah Deich

Center for Carbon Removal

Noah is a cleantech professional with a passion for fighting climate change.

Noah Deich, Executive Director at Center for Carbon Removal

Tom Price

All Power Labs

Tom Price leads international project and partnership development for All Power Labs, a pioneer in carbon negative energy design.

Tom Price, Director of Strategic Initiatives at All Power Labs

Amanda Ravenhill

Project Drawdown

Amanda Ravenhill is the Operations Director of Project Drawdown, where she brings her passion and expertise in environmental and social justice to the organization’s solution-based approach t